Kentucky Child Care Providers Worried Over Impending Cuts

Starting in July, Kentucky will offer low-income families less help with daycare costs.

The state is changing income guidelines for the Child Care Assistance Program. More than 14,000 children live in families who will earn too much to qualify but too little to pay for child care and still make ends meet.

Lori Moses is the owner of Baby Tender daycare in Elizabethtown. She fears the cuts will force more parents to quit their jobs to stay home with their children.

"If they don't come, then that affects our business because we obviously need children to keep the business going," explains Moses. "That means laying off staff if we don't have the children, so it's a big cycle."

Kentucky Youth Advocates recently surveyed child care providers and found that 77% of them were extremely concerned about the impact of the cuts. Governor Beshear is being urged to find a budget solution and reverse the decision.

Child advocates say when parents receive child care support, they are more likely to get and keep a job, and stay off of welfare.